Assad to stay at post of president until end of his term - Syrian foreign minister

May 29, 2013, 23:13 UTC+3Syrian President Bashar Assad will stay at his post until the end of his term that will expire in 2014

Share

1 pages in this article

CAIRO, May 29 (Itar-Tass) - Syrian President Bashar Assad will stay at his post until the end of his term that will expire in 2014, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem told the television channel Al-Mayadeen on Wednesday. Moreover, he noted that the Syrian leader will probably run in next presidential elections.

The minister blamed the opposition that they put forward the conditions for their participation in a conference Geneva-2. Muallem refuted strongly one of these conditions that is Assad’s resignation before the launch of any dialogue between the warring parties.

Meanwhile, the foreign minister noted Damascus will participate in the conference Geneva-2 without preconditions, but expects “additional details” now. The government is to approve a line-up of the delegation, which will go to an international conference, he noted.

“We will go for it with good intentions and hope,” Muallem said, noting that, meanwhile, this meeting will become a real opportunity to put an end to the conflict.

“All agreements reached upon the results of the conference in Geneva will be put up for a general referendum,” Muallem said.

He also accused the United States of “a blatant interference” in the Syrian domestic affairs. “The U.S. should not be concerned who will rule Syria. Only the Syrians will decide on their fate themselves,” he noted.

Meanwhile, the Syrian foreign minister said with confidence that “those who embarked on the path of violence and terror will not accept a political settlement.”